Josh Simon took the Studio 23 motto quite literally on April 17, proposing to his girlfriend Kimberly Ward, on their three-year dating anniversary, during a private Sips 'n' Swirls art class at the downtown Bay City studio.

"I really love Kim and I wanted to do something special for her," said Simon, who wanted to incorporate the arts into how he popped the big question. Ward was an art major in college.

The idea for his unique proposal came while he was ring shopping with Ward's best friend, Lena Scarpace.

During the conversation, Scarpace mentioned the idea of a Sips 'n' Swirls art class. Intrigued, Simon searched for studios offering classes and called Studio 23, 901 N. Water St., to speak with instructor Tara Welch.

"I was shocked," recalled Welch. "It was really exciting."

With a plan in hand, Simon arranged for a private painting class.

Ward, in retrospect, remembered one day Simon asked her what kind of paintings she liked. Slightly puzzled, Ward replied she liked landscapes.

Simon had asked Ward to keep her schedule open for April 17, but left the specifics a mystery.

Since it was their anniversary, Ward said she thought the private painting lesson was the extent of the surprise, unaware the reason their canvases were opposite of each other was to keep the proposal a secret.

Stroke by stroke, the couple layered paint on their respective canvases. Ward created a beach sunset in cool violet tones, while Simon's landscape was a vivid orange sunset over a forest.

"It's safe to say my hands were shaking," Simon said. "I had to use two hands sometimes."

Ward remained oblivious. As the class continued, Welch said, Ward was completely relaxed. Simon, on the other hand, was meticulously trying to make the painting — and the proposal — perfect.

"He was acting a little squirrely, but I didn't think anything of it," Ward said.

As they completed their paintings, Welch told them to sign their paintings. Ward wrote out "Kimberly Ward" in the bottom right corner of her canvas. Simon, however, painted the all-important question.

"Josh was painting really slowly, and he would stand back to look at it," Welch recalled. "He made it look professional."

Welch directed Ward to reveal their paintings near the window. They had collaborated with Saginaw photographer Ashley Lynn Plyler, who was outside, to capture the moment Ward walked around to see the question: "Will you marry me?"

The answer, of course, was yes.

"It was the best proposal ever," Ward said. "I wouldn't change any of it for the world."

Welch said it was fun for her, as the instructor, to be a part of the experience.

"It's something really personal, and it's special they wanted to share it with us," she said.

She recalled at one point, the conversation turned to Ward talking about a wedding she would be in this summer and needing to go dress shopping. The irony was almost too much.

"She was completely taken away," Welch said.

"I just really appreciate how much time and consideration he put into it," Ward said.

Simon said part of the reason he selected a painting class is because participants get to keep their artwork.

"I thought it would be a nice keepsake," he said.

The couple plans to hang the painting in either their bedroom or living room in their new apartment.